America’s Top Pitmasters & Backyard BBQ Pros Are Coming To Tampa

Ticket includes BBQ samples from 20 Cook Teams,
plus a vote for Grand and Reserve Champion

For the love of BBQ

perry harvey park
DOWNTOWN TAMPA

11.18.2023

THIS IS A CASHLESS EVENT

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Meet our renowned Pitmasters

Anthony DiBernardo

SWIG & SWINE BBQ

Charleston, SC

Horrifying Vegetarians
Since 2013

Arnis Robbins

EVIE MAE's PIT BARBEQUE

Wolffoth, Texas

Top 10
TMBBQ joint

Adrian Wright

DEM 2 BROTHERS

Charleston, WV

Best BBQ in West Virgina
As seen on Food Network

Mel Chmilar

DARKSIDE OF THE GRILL

PitMaster/Open Fire Chef

Big Green Egg
Pro Team

Butterknife Shawty

GEORGIA BOY

Georgia

Private Chef &
Pit Master

Experience amazing local BBQ and help decide which of the Tampa Bay’s Cook Teams will be crowned best of 2023!

Introducing some of your local Cook Teams!

Tampa Fire Rescue

Guns and Hoses - Hillsborough County Fire

Tampa Police Department

Trompo X BBQ Nerds

Bourbon and BBQ Boys

Thrills, Grills, & Eight Eleven Skills

Up In Smoke

Grillable Hours

FLAMINGO BBQ

T.B.S.C

The Odessa Smokin Mullets

Risk It For the BRISKET

Liquor Depot X Castironskillz

The Lock Out Tag Outs

Team METAL CRAFT

No better way to spend a Saturday in November. Great BBQ and Awesome Music!

Griffin House

Musician

If you are looking to be blown away by raw talent, then look no further than Griffin House.”
—American Songwriter

DJ Wizz Kid

DJ

An unbelievable talent, playing all of your favorites!

Known for raising the energy in the room

Kelly Daniels

Musician / Band

Writing songs from the heart that relate to just about anyone is my passion...

Let me reel you in!

Our Sponsors make it happen, Thank you!

Presenting Sponsors
Sponsors
Media Partners
Beverage Partners
Hotel Partners
BBQ Industry Partners

Interested in becoming a Sponsor or Partner?

Our Charities

BBQ Love Fest is more than a good time, it’s a philanthropic event
that supports FARA (Friedriech’s Ataxia Research Alliance)
What is FA? Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a debilitating, life-shortening, degenerative neuro-muscular disorder. About one in 50,000 people in the United States has Friedreich’s ataxia. It is estimated there are 4,000 individuals affected with FA in the U.S., and 15,000 affected individuals worldwide. Most individuals have onset of symptoms of FA between 15 and 18 year of age. FARA is supporting research that will improve the quality and length of life for those diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia and will lead to treatments that eliminate its symptoms.

Operation BBQ Relief is a disaster relief nonprofit founded by big-hearted Kansas City pitmasters.

They have provided over 11,000,000 hot meals to residents, first responders, and relief workers since 2011.

Their commitment to serve doesn’t end with disaster response.

Through the Always Serving Project and Camp OBR, Operation BBQ Relief serves our Military, Veterans, Families of the Fallen, First Responders, and their Families 365 days of the year.

The Special Operations Memorial Foundation’s mission is to pay tribute to the selflessness, service, and sacrifice of the United States Special Operations Command and its assigned forces. They aim to recognize their accomplishments, service, and sacrifices to honor, promote, and preserve the distinguished heritage of special operations in our nation.

Questions? We have answers

FARA, OPERATION BBQ RELIEF, and SPECIAL OPERATIONS MEMORIAL FOUNDATION.

We are currently accepting sponsorships and community partners. We would love for you to support BBQ Love Fest. Download our sponsorship packet here or contact us at info@bbqlovefest.com to learn more about opportunities to be a part of this amazing event.
BBQ Love Fest is expected to have up to 25 cook teams who will be cooking for a cure. Cook teams consist of up to four cook team members who will be cooking BBQ samples (items of their choosing) on their grills on site for their attendees. There will be two awards for the local cook teams, Grand Champion and Reserve Champion. Attendees will vote for their favorite local team.

Pitmaster’s Showcase is where we will feature famous, award winning pitmasters from around the country showcasing their delicious BBQ for attendees to sample.

We do not have an opportunity for barbecue vendors to sell food. We do have sponsorships and cook team opportunities.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Perry Harvey Park (Map It) from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Yes, there is paid public parking lots within 1-2 blocks from the park. ADA parking is available.

We love dogs, but no dogs will be allowed at the event.

Delicious food samples from the cook teams, pitmasters, and our BBQ partners will be available. Attendees will not leave hungry! Drinks are not included in the GA ticket, but are included in the VIP tickets. Drinks will be available for purchase.

For ease of accessing the BBQ Love Fest, guests are encouraged to travel as lightly as possible. The following items are not permitted on event day:

  • Bags larger than 12x12x12 inches, backpacks, or wrapped packages

  • Cameras with lenses smaller than 4” will be permitted, but camera bags will not be permitted.

  • Selfie Sticks

  • iPads and GoPros

  • Binoculars are permitted, but binocular bags are not permitted.

  • Video or audio recording devices

  • Laser pointers

  • Weapons of any kind

  • Bottles, cans, or containers of any kind

  • Sharp objects, sticks, or poles of any kind

  • Fireworks

  • Pepper spray or mace

  • Coolers or outside food or beverage items

  • Drugs or controlled substances

  • Chairs, folding chairs, or any other type of individual chair for use

  • Wrapped gifts

  • Large banners or signs, banners or signs with objectionable language, banners or signs on a pole of any kind

 No. There is no re-entry allowed.

  • No outside alcohol will be allowed in the event.

  • Guests who are obviously impaired will not be admitted through the event checkpoint at the discretion of event management.

  • You must be at least 21 years old to purchase alcohol. All alcohol sales require a government-issued photo ID as proof of age.

  • No Identification; No Alcohol.

Yes, see our starting schedule of events.

Yes, we love and are grateful for volunteers! Please email info@bbqlovefest.com to learn more about our volunteer opportunities and shifts.

Be in the know of all things BBQ Love Fest such as when ticket sales go live, music announcements, partner announcements and more!

  1. Sign up for our newsletter (on homepage)

  2. Follow us on Facebook

Why BBQ Love Fest?

BBQ Love Fest was born out of the love of Bar-B-Que, with renowned pitmasters from all over the country. Along with local Cook Teams competing for your vote as who is the best local pitmaster. Mix incredible music all day long and find out how Tampa does BBQ Love Fest.

To Experience even more, check us out

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Are you a First Responder?

We love BBQ and we absolutely love our First Responders. That is why we are providing a First Responder Discount to the BBQ Love Fest. If your on the front line, either in the Military, Police, Firefighters, Nurses, EMS Personnel, Dispatch or Corrections. Please fill out the form to receive a discount code and Thank you for all that you do!

What do you do?